Never to Surrender
Author/Uploaded by Mary-Anne O'Connor
PRAISE FOR MARY-ANNE O’CONNOR ‘Richly imagined and splendidly told, Dressed by Iris is a feel-good story about love, family and following your dreams. Fans of Natasha Lester and Victoria Purman will adore this.’ —Better Reading ‘Another wonderful Australian saga … What a joy!’ —Great Reads and Tea Leaves on Dressed by Iris ‘Glamour, fashion, ambition, faith, family,...
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PRAISE FOR MARY-ANNE O’CONNOR ‘Richly imagined and splendidly told, Dressed by Iris is a feel-good story about love, family and following your dreams. Fans of Natasha Lester and Victoria Purman will adore this.’ —Better Reading ‘Another wonderful Australian saga … What a joy!’ —Great Reads and Tea Leaves on Dressed by Iris ‘Glamour, fashion, ambition, faith, family, expectation and loyalty all converge in Dressed by Iris by Australian historical fiction scholar Mary-Anne O’Connor. An all-embracing saga that dazzles and shines with glory, Dressed by Iris is a historical showcase not to be missed! —Mrs B’s Book Reviews ‘A richly woven tale’ —Australian Women’s Weekly on Dressed by Iris ‘Meticulously researched, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Sisters of Freedom is yet another marvellous Australian historical from Mary-Anne O’Connor, cementing her place at the top of this genre. I highly recommend this to readers of rich, transportive historical fiction with empowering, female characters.’ —Better Reading ‘A wonderful tale of love, adventure and bushrangers in colonial Australia…gripping and compelling.’ —Canberra Times on Where Fortune Lies ‘A mix of history and escapism, and a strong sense of place, makes this novel an enjoyable read for lovers of Australian stories.’ —R.M. Williams Outback on Where Fortune Lies ‘Mary-Anne always weaves multiple layers to her tales, and here is no different. A cast of complex and truly compelling characters reels you in and takes you on an absolutely riveting adventure. I was completely sold on this story from the start.’ —Better Reading on Where Fortune Lies ‘…an epic, panoramic, historic tour-de-force…here is an author who knows how to craft an historical drama in prose as clear and cascading as an Irish mountain stream.’ —Irish Scene on In a Great Southern Land ‘Wins over the reader with the clarity of her characters and a strong plot…beautiful, engaging storytelling.’ —Daily Telegraph on In a Great Southern Land ‘…from oppression overseas to the gold rush and horror of the Eureka Stockade, [this] is historical escapism in epic, sweeping form.’ —Sunday Telegraph on In a Great Southern Land ‘An epic, sweeping tale revolving around a clever, spirited woman and a fiery, charismatic Irishman. Dramatic, gripping and colourful, it’s historical fiction of a quality that will Bestselling author MARY-ANNE O’CONNOR has a combined arts education degree with specialities in environment, music and literature. After a successful marketing career she now focuses on writing fiction and non-fiction as well as public speaking. Mary-Anne lives in a house overlooking her beloved bushland in northern Sydney with her husband Anthony, their two sons Jimmy and Jack, and their very spoilt dog Saxon. Her previous novels are Gallipoli Street, Worth Fighting For, War Flower, In a Great Southern Land, Where Fortune Lies, Sisters of Freedom and Dressed by Iris. Also by Mary-Anne O’Connor Gallipoli Street Worth Fighting For War Flower In a Great Southern Land Where Fortune Lies Sisters of Freedom Dressed by Iris www.harpercollins.com.au/hq For those brave people who fought for Crete’s independence and for my brother James who ignited my love of modern history Σκιάς όναρ άνθρωπος. Man is but the dream of a shadow. —Pindar, Odes for Victorious Athletes, 518–438 BC Contents Praise Also by Mary-Anne O’Connor Part One: The flick of a switch One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten Part Two: Home of the gods Eleven Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen Part Three: Rulers of the sea Seventeen Eighteen Nineteen Twenty Twenty-One Twenty-Two Twenty-Three Twenty-Four Twenty-Five Part Four: Dust and shadow Twenty-Six Twenty-Seven Twenty-Eight Twenty-Nine Thirty Thirty-One Thirty-Two Thirty-Three Part Five: Horizons Thirty-Four Thirty-Five Thirty-Six Thirty-Seven Thirty-Eight Thirty-Nine Forty Forty-One Forty-Two Forty-Three Forty-Four Forty-Five Forty-Six Epilogue Author’s Notes Part One The flick of a switch One Berry, New South Wales, November, 1939 ‘Do you trust me?’ Margie Doncaster’s blue eyes flashed with daring and Carl Smith’s heart thudded hard. ‘I don’t know, should I?’ A slow smile spread across her pretty face. She leant back, her body arching as she glanced down at the sea. Margie held his hands tight. ‘Of course. Together, on the count of three,’ she said and his gaze stayed trained on her as the ocean churned below. ‘One, two …’ Carl braced himself to jump just as she pulled. They went together, the word ‘three’ flying into the air with them. Hands still clasped, they hit the water, the cool rush shocking his skin. The force of it
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